Automatic telephone switch



June 30, 1925 543,666 H. F. DoBBlN AUTOMATIC TEJLEIPIIOJEv SWITCH Filed April 30, 1925 Patented June 30, 1925.

` UNITEDSTATES 1,543,666 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. DOBEI'N, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNOR'TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM- PANY,V1NOORPOR.ATED, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIO TELEPHONE SWITCH.

Application led April 30, 1923. Serial No. 635,416.

Telephone Switches, of which the following r`is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to electrical switching apparatus and more particularly it refers to that class of coordinate switches adapted for establishingr connections in an automatic telephone exchange system.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of switching devices by providing a novel contact bank with an improved mechanism whereby the contacts are brought into engagement in a positive manner and wherein the operating parts of the mechanism are readily accessible for adjustment or repairs.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of adjustable stationary banks of passive contacts each formed by a plurality of flat spring punched multiple contacts superposed on insulating strips, ixedly arranged on individually removable bars.

Another feature is the provision of adjustable means cooperating with said bars for controlling the tension of the contact springs on their supporting members. n

Another feature is the provision of cards for supporting the passive and activecontacts in contacting relation with each other and the provision of means in said cards for guiding the active contacts when actuated by their operating cams.

Other features of` lnvention and advantages will appear rom the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan sectional view of said switch showing one selecting bar in operated position, Fig. 2 is a right-hand side view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a front view of a supporting card showing a set of passive and active contacts in normal non-operated position.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The switch structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 generally comprises a plurality of active and passive Contact sets, arranged in coordinate rows. The active contacts are arranged on the insulating supports which are rigidly fastened on the switch frame (not shown).

Each set vof active contacts generally comprises a number of bare `wires 13, 14, and 16, the free ends of which thread through apertures 13', 14', 15 and 16 in a card 17 The cards 17 are each arranged on al pair of arms 18 and 19 integrally formed with the reonforcing strips 20, 21 held securely on opposite sides of vsupports l() by any suitable fastening means. Each set of active contacts 13, 14, 15 and 16 is disposed in contacting relation with a corresponding number of contact springs 22, 23,24 and 25 which are preferably punched outl of flat strips of metal such as 26, 27, 28 and 29, shown in Fig. 2. The strips 26, 27, 28 and 29 of each bank are insulatedly arranged on rotatable bars 30 and are held securely in position thereon by means of reenforcing stripsy 31 and a number of screws 32. o

On each bar 30 there is provided an arm 33 in operable relation with an adjustable member 48 arranged on a portion of the .switch frame and adapted to hold the sets associated active contacts 13, 14, 15, 16, etc.

For each vertical row of active contactsr there is provided a rotatable bar 34, each of which carries a number of selecting arms 35 and an arm 36. An armature 37 carrying an arm 38 'is adapted to rotate the bar 34 in response to each energization of electromagnet 39.

For each horizontal row of passive con tacts there is provided a bar 40 each carrying a number of arms 41 on which the cams 42 are pivotally arranged and held in normal non-operated position thereon by means of retracting springs 43 hooked on upward extending lugs 44 of arm 41 and on lugs 44 of cams 42. It is to be noted that normally cams 42 are free to move in a vertical path wherein they are ineffective to engage their associated sets of contacts.

The bars 40 are preferably made in sections which are coupled by means of arms 45 and 46 secured on adjacent ends of the bars and disposed in operable relation with an armature 4T adapted to rotate the bars in response to each energization of an electro-magnet 49.

Iilhen the bar 3ft is rotated out of normal position as shown at 3st in Fig. 1, and as indicated by broken lines in Fig. Q, the arms (note arm 5l) intercept the path of cams and move them toward a vertical position wherein the selected cam engages and lifts the active contacts into engagement with its associated set of' passive contacts.

By means of the chamfered portion of card 1T the cam 42 is rotated a small an* gular distance away from its operatingr arm 35 and any subsequent movement of bar 3l is ineffective to disturb the connection already established.

rIhis invention is an improvement of the coordinate switch which may be adaptable to the telephone system disclosed in Patent 1,515,735, granted to Charles L. Goodrnm et al. on November 18, 192i.

Ifhat is claimed is:

l. In a switching device, the combination of' sets of normally disengaged active and passive contacts arranged in coordinate rows, an upright support for said active contacts, a plurality of' pairs of supporting arms arranged on said support, a card arranged on each pair of said arms for supporting said active and passive contacts in adjusted position, a movable bar associated with said active contacts, another bar, and rotatable cams carried by the last mentioned bar for interconnecting said active and passive contacts.

2. In a switching device, the combination of normally disengaged aitive and passive contacts, supporting arms therefor, an insulating card arranged on said support for supporting said active and passive contacts in spaced relation thereon, a rotatable cam, another card carried by said cam, and a pair of coordinately disposed bars for operating said cam to cause the inter-engagement of said active and passive contacts.

3. In a switching device, the combination of multiple sets of contacts arranged on a rotatable bar, stationary cards arranged on supports for holding the contacts of each of said sets in alignment, an adjustable device for said bar for controlling the tension of said contacts on said cards collectively. sets of' active contacts arranged on said supports and disposed in said cards in contacting rclation with the first mentioned Contact sets, and operating means therefor.

et. In a switching device, the combination of active and passive contact sets, stationary cards for holding said contact sets in adjusted position, a selecting mechanism for operating said active contacts including a plurality of pairs of coordinately disposed selecting and operating bars, arms carried by the first mentioned bars, pivotable cams carried by the second mentioned bars, a movement of one of' the first mentioned bars followed by a movement of one of the second mentioned bars being effective to cause said active contacts to engage said passive contacts.

5. In a switching device, the combination of active and passive contacts, stationary cards therefor, selecting and operating bars associated with said contacts, cards pivotally arranged on said operating bars, retracting springs for holding said cards in normal non-operating position relative to said active contacts, means for moving the first mentioned bar for operatively engaging said cards, means for actuating the operating bar for moving said cards in a path wherein they are effective to engage said active and passive contacts, and means included in the stationary card for moving the rotatable cards in a path wherein a subsequent movement of' said selecting bar is ineffective to disturb the connections already established.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26 day of April, A. D. 1923.

HENRY F. DOBBIN. 

